Safety lockbox



A. LEVERETH SAFETY LOCKBOX April 1, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET l m z J W wdwmfl 4 f 5 w w 2 w M4 1 r 7 7 Q II F Filed Sept. 24, 1948 April 1, 1952A. LEVERETH 2,591,270

SAFET Y LOCKBOX Filed Sept. 24, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patented Apr. 1,1952 UNITED STATES rarest OFFICE SAFETY LOCKBGX Anthony Levereth,Belleville, N. J.

Application September 24, 1948, Serial No. 50,980

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a type of box in which the cover is held on bymeans that will make it hard for one, not familiar with the constructionand operation of the box to open it to get at its contents. children.While I am aware that puzzle boxes have been made heretofore, they havenot, so far as I am aware, come into general use.

It is therefore the principal object of my invention to provide a safetylock box difficult to open but of a type which can be successfully usedfor different purposes, for example to store money, jewelry, powders ofdifferent kinds such as talcum, cigarettes and other articles. Anotherobject of my invention is to provide a box of the type to be described,that can be made relatively cheap and light without screws, springs orother metal parts. Other objects will appear from the description whichfollows wherein Figure 1 is a plan or top view of one form of myinvention.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but with operating parts inunlocking position.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but with the cover movedtopartia1 open position.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but with the cover still fartherto open position.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but with the cover turned inreverse position.

Figure '6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but with the cover in full openposition.

Figure '7 is a view of the cover only as shown in "Figure 6 "with an:ornamental design on the top.

Figure 8 is a view of the box or receptacle with the coverf-ul'ly'removed.

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Figure -1 but on an enlargedscale.

Figure 10 is aview similar to Figure 1 with the cover operating memberremoved butshowing the operating stud insection.

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10 taken just above the lockingslide.

Figure 12 is a view of the bottom of the cover with the locking slide inunlocking position.

Figure 13 is aperspective fragmentary view on an enlarged scale of thelocking stud at one end of the box.

Figure 14 is a perspective fragmentary view on an enlarged scale of thelocking means at the opposite end from the showing in Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a plan view of a modified form of construction.

Figure 16 is an end view of Figure 15 looking from the bottom .end.

Figure 17 is a section on the line 11-41 of Figure 15 but on an enlargedscale.

It is really a puzzle box, especially for Figure 18 is a view similar toFigure l5 but with the operating member shown in dotted lines inunlocking position and the operating stud in section.

Figure 19 is a view of the form shown in Figure 15 but with the cover inthe position as the cover in Figure 6.

Figure 20 is a view similar to Figure 8 but of the form of Figure 15.

Figure 21 is a section on the line 21|-2l of Figure 20.

Figure 22 is a view on the line 22-22 of Figure 17 but on the same scaleas Figure 20.

Figure 23 is a bottom view of cover of Figure 15 but showing the lockingstud at one end. and the locking means at the opposite end in positionbut in section.

Figure 24 is a plan view showing another shape of box.

Figure 25 is a view on the line 2525 of Figure 24 but on an enlargedscale.

Figure 26 is a view on the line 26-46 of Figure 25 but on a reducedscale.

Figure 27 is a View similar to Figure 23 but of theform shown in Figure24 without the locking stud and means.

Figure 28 is a view similar to Figure 19 of the form shown in Figure 24.

In the various views wherein like numbers refer to corresponding parts Iis a box or receptacle which may be made of anysuitable materialpreferably of the plastic type such as lucite. The receptacle I may bemolded all in one piece or can be made in separate parts, as I haveconstructed my models, these parts being anchored together by suitablecement or binding material such as acetone. For the purpose ofornamentation, the bottom of the receptacle may have a thin strip ofmaterial 2 of different color from the rest of the receptacle. At oneend of the receptacle there is provided what I term a combination lockstud portion 3 and a head 4. The stud 3 is etxended upward from thereinforcement base 5 (see Figure 13). At the opposite end of thereceptacle 1 there is provided a locking means 6 (see Figure 1 1) thisis dove-tail in shape to fit co-operatively in slot 1 in one end of thecover 8. Cover 8 is preferably made with a plurality of plates, an innerplate 9 having a slot I0 therein to pass the stud 3 and an enlargement Hto pass head 4 of the stud 3. Above the inner plate 9 there is a middleplate 12 having a recess l3 therein to locate the slide 14. It is notedthat the middle plate I2 has formations l5 and I5 on opposite sideswhich co-operate with similar formations l1 and I8 on the slide [4 tostop or posibe operated to release the cover.

tion the slide in its locking and unlocking positions. The slide I4 isprovided with a slot 19 extending parallel with the slot In in the innerplate 9. Positioned over the middle plate is an outer plate 20. Theouter plate 20 has a slot2l therein to allow for transverse movement ofthe stud 22 that is fastened at one end to the slide I4 and at the topend to an operating member 23 which is located and slidably mounted onthe upper surface of the outer plate 20.

When the operating device 23 is in its locking position, (as shown inFigure 1) it is noted that the edge 24 of the slot l9 in the slide 14will be in front of the stud 3 and its head 4 and the cover 8 cannot bemoved endwise on the receptacle I. On moving the operating member 23inthe direction indicated by the arrow as shown Figure 3, at which pointthe cover may be turned as shown in Figures 4 and 5 and then withdrawnto position as shown in Figure 6 and thereby exposing the interior ofthe receptacle. If desired, the cover may be removed entirely when thehead 4 of the stud is in alignment with the enlarged portion l I of theslot I0 in the inner plate 9 as shown in Figure 5, but this is notnecessary since the cover can be withdrawn as shown in Figure 6 toexpose the most of the interior of the box. The operating member 23 maybe equipped with a device 25 as shown in Figure '7. It may be of adiiferent color than the operating member 23 to give a deceptiveappearance of being rotated which one might think could be done tounlock the cover. I prefer, if the structure is made of different piecesto make the outer plate 20 of the cover a different color than the innerplate 9 or the receptacle I.

To close the receptacle the. box cover 8 is operated in the reversedirection from that as shown in opening the box, as will be obvious fromthe description given in connection with Figures 1 to 6.

In the forms shown. in Figures to 23 inclusive, the receptacle l andcover 8 are generally the same construction as shown in Figures 1 to 14inclusive. In the form as shown in Figure 15 there are two other devices26 and 21 similar in shape to the operating member 23 to give a furtherdeceptive appearance, as to which is to Furthermore, these members maybe provided with a knob 28 that may be of a different color, likewisethe parts 23, 26 and 27, may be of different colors. In the forms asshown in Figures 15 to 23 inclusive, the slide I4 is shown withoppositely positioned projections 29 and 30 which perform the samefunctions as the parts ['1 and 18 as shown in Figure 2 and theyco-operate with the recesses 31 in the middle plate I2 of the cover. Themethod of procedure to remove the cover, in the forms as .shown inFigures 15 to 23 inclusive, is just the same as the previous descriptionin connection with the forms as shown in Figures -1 to 14 in- 'clusive.

In the forms as shown in Figures 24 to 28 inclusive the locking andunlocking construction is substantially the same as in the other forms,the only difference being in the shape of the structure shown, which isoval instead of rectangular. In Figure 24 the operating member 23 isrectangular instead of square as shown in the other figures and may beprovided with letters such as 32 to indicate the initials of an owner.

The cover may be made with two plates with a recess preferably in thebottom plate to receive the slide l4. Preferably the material should beopaque so that one cannot see through the outer cover or receptacle tofollow the movement of the slide l4.

From the foregoing it Will be seen that certain of the details may bevaried without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope ofthe appending claims.

I claim:

1. A safety lock box including, a box portion with a dove-tail part atone end and a combination lock stud at the opposite end, this studhaving-a stop portion terminating in a locking head, a cover for the boxportion, said cover being composed of three plates, the inner platehaving a dove-tail notch at one end to receive said dovetail part on thebox and a slot at the opposite end extending toward said notch andterminating in an opening large enough to pass said locking head on thecombination stud, a middle plate having a recess therein to receive alocking control slide, an outer plate having a transverse slot thereinto receive an operating stud, an operating member slidably mounted onthe outer plate and carrying an operating stud passing through the slotin the outer plate and a slide located in the recess in the middle plateand connected to said operating stud, the slide and middle plate havingco-operative formations limiting the movement of the slide betweenlocking and unlocking positions such that when the operating member isin looking position said slide has one edge located closely in front ofthe locking head of said lock stud to lock the cover to the box, theoperating slide also having an open-ended longitudinal slot positionedtherein so when the slide is in unlocking position said slot thereinwill be over the slot in the inner plate to allow the whole cover plateto be moved so as to free the dove tail lock and allow the cover to beturned about said combination stud to open the box.

2. A safety lock box as set forth in claim 1 further defined in that thesaid outer plate has a plurality of deception members mounted thereonsimilar in outline to the slidable operating member.

3. A safety lock box including, a box portion with a dove-tail part atone end and a combination lock stud at the opposite end this stud havinga stop portion terminating in a locking head, a cover for the boxportion, said cover being composed of a plurality of plates including aninner and an outer plate, the said inner plate having a clove tail notchat one end to receive said dovetail part on the box and a slot at theopposite end extending toward said notch and terminating in an openingto pass said locking head on the combination stud, the outer platehaving a slot therein to receive an operating stud, a slide locatedbetween the inner and outer plates, an operating member movably mountedon the outer surface of the outer plate and carrying an operating studpassing through the slot in said outer plate and having its inner endfastened to said slide means within the confines of the inner and outerplates for regulating the amount of movement of the slide betweenlocking and unlocking ,positions so that when the operating member is innormal locking position said slide has one edge located closely in frontof said locking head to lock the cover to the box, the operating slidealso having a slot positioned therein so when the slide is in unlockingpsoition said slot therein will be over the slot in the inner plate toallow the whole cover plate to be moved so as to free the dove tail lockand allow the cover to be turned about said combination stud to open thebox.

4. A safety lock box as set forth in claim 3 further defined in that theouter plate has at least one deception member mounted thereon similar inoutline to the slidable operating member.

5. A safety lock box including a receptacle portion and a covertherefor, the cover being composed of at least two plates anchoredtogether, the receptacle and cover being relatively slidable and eachhaving co-operative interlocking means at one end, a slide positioned onthe upper side of the inner plate with positioning means therefor, anoperating member slidably mounted on the top surface of the outer ofsaid plates and having a stud passing through the outer plate andanchored to the slide, the outer plate having a slot therein to receivesaid stud to allow transverse movement of said stud between locking andreleasing positions, a headed locking stud carried by the receptacle atthe end opposite said end interlocking means, the inner plate having aslot to receive the headed locking stud when the cover is to be moved toopen position, this slot extending in toward the stud on the operatingmember, said slide having a slot positioned in alignment with the innerplate slot when the slide is in releasing position but out of suchalignment so a part of the slide forming a side of its slot is in frontof said headed stud to lock the cover in closed position on thereceptacle.

6. A safety lock box as defined in claim 5 further characterized in thatsaid slide sets in a recess formed within one of the plates and thepositioning means comprising formations on opposite ends of the slideengaging cooperative plate formation to stop the slide in looking andunlocking position.

7. A safety lock box as defined in claim 5 further characterized in thatthe cover is made up of three plates with the middle one having anopening therein to receive the slide, the opening having formations onopposite ends to receive cooperative slide formations to locate theslide in looking and releasing position when moved by said operatingmember.

8. A safety lock box as defined in claim 5 further characterized in thatwhen the operating member only is on the top surface of the outer coverplate a device is carried by the operating member which will deceptivelyindicate to one not familiar with the structure that it can be rotatedto release the cover.

9. A safety lock box as defined in claim 5 further characterized in thatthe outer plate has a plurality of similarly shaped devices mountedthereon or which only one is the operative member to-release the cover.

10. A safety lock box as defined in claim 5 further characterized inthat the outer plate has a plurality of similarly shaped devices withknobs mounted thereon of which only the center one is the operativemember to release the cover while said devices are of different colorsand the knobs are also of different colors.

ANTHONY LEVERETI-I.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 718,081 Bracket Jan. 13, 1903821,210 Wallin May 22, 1906 1,019,490 Krzan Mar. 5, 1912 1,293,062 ErdeyFeb. 4, 1919 1,293,324 Bukowski Feb. 4, 1919 2,095,633 Fullmer Oct. 12,1937 2,109,928 Passalaqua Mar. 1, 1938

